Shoe-lacing hook.



No. 699,989.- Patente d May I3, 1902. F. VANDERCOOK. SHOE LAGING HOOK.

(Application filed Oct. 17, 1901.

(lo Model) a) Frank 17. VznBercook UNIT D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANICE. VANDERCOOK, OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN MEYER, OF W'ATERBURY, CONNECTICUT.

SHOE-LACINGIHOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 699,989, dated May 13, 1902. Application filed October 17,1901. Serial No. 78,966. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK E.VANDEROOOK,

of Waterbury, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in 'Shoe- Lacing Hooks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in shoe-lacing hooks, and more particularly to a guard or shield for protecting the open end of such hooks.

It is the object of my invention to provide a shoe-lacing hook for either gentlemens or ladies shoes, which hooks may be applied and used in the customary. way; further, to produce one which will not have any projecting points or raw edges to engage the overhanging garments of the wearer, as is now the 0bjectionable result with the majority of hooks upon the market.

My invention may be applied to several forms of lacing-hooks by a slight change; but in all instanceseach hook would be made and attached separately, as is now the custom, and fastened by riveting or eyeleting in the usual way.

With theabove objects in view my invention resides and consists inthe novel construction and arrangement of parts shown upon the accompanying sheet of drawings, forming a part of this specificatiom upon which similar characters of reference denote like or corresponding partsthroughout the several figures, and of which- Figure 1 shows a central vertical cross-section of a shoe-lacing hook formed in accordance with my invention. Fig. l is a plan View of Fig. 1. Figs. 2 and 3 show a central vertical cross-section and a plan view, respectively, of a hook similar to that shown in Fig. 1, with a slightly-modified method of attaching the shield. Figs. 4 and 5 show a central vertical cross-section of a modifiedform 0f lacing-hook, the same comprising in part several suitable eyelets instead of but one, as in the preceding figures. Figs. 6, 7, and 8 show a plan view, a side, and front elevation, respectively, of a further modification of my lacing-hook, the same being designed in accordance with the popular forms of hooks upon the market, but provided with my improved guard. a citizen of the United States, and a resident Referring in detail to the characters of reference marked upon the drawings, a represents the main stud of my hook, which may be made solid of a single piece, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, or it may be constructed of oneor more eyelets, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. This stud in practice forms the engagement for the lacing-string when the latter is looped around it in the customarymanner.

In Fig. 6 a shorter stud a is employed, and to the upper end is secured a stud I), having an enlarged head 0, which differs but slightly from the lacinghooks now in common use and is designed to be produced upon some of the automatic machines now employed for manufacturing such hooks.

My improvement consists, briefly, in providing a flexible shield at for the stud, which may be constructed of rubber or thin metal and is preferably attached to the head of stud, as shown in the several drawings, in a 'mannerto cover the raw edge of the head and inclose the opening thereunder. In Fig. l this shield is shown in plan view as being substantially round, presenting a smooth round oval head-surface with edges deflected downward, which come nearly in contact with the surface of the shoe if attached thereto. In Fig. l Ihave shown the edge of this shield cut out 'in two places, forming openings in which the lace is designed to'lie, thus avoid ing any folding of the shield andinsuring a more presentable article. These openings are not in all cases necessary, since if the shield is formed of sufficiently thin rubber of proper quality it will snugly engage the string and not produce a bad effect. In Figs. 6, 7, and 8 I have shown a simple and inexpensive form of shield, which may also be formed of rubber, and consists of atop portion,which in practice is moldedor otherwise attached to the head 0' of the hook I) and is provided with a taporing depending apron d, the end of which nearly engages the faceof the stud- These shields, as will be seen in each instance, completely cover the head of the stud, producing a'smooth and sightly appearance to the finished article, besides preventing any possible engagement of the stud with the gar- ICO ments of the wearer. At the same time they are so constructed that the lacing may readily be drawn in past the flexible apron against the stud, which apron quickly snaps back to its normal position after the lacing is drawn up in place.

The same method of lacing would be employed in using either of the forms of studs shown and would be accomplished by simply drawing the lace around and under the flexible shield shown, all of which can be done as quickly as if using the present plain lacingstud.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a shoe-lacing device, the combination with a lacing-stud, of an annular depending flexible apron for the same covering the stud and adapted to fold under to permit the lac- FRANK E. VANDERCOOK.

WVitnesses:

CHARLES E. MEIGS, FREDK. M. PEASLEY. 

